My paper with Ylias Sadki and Shivaji Sondhi is on arXiv
The aim of the course is to give an overview of the aim and scope of the field of condensed matter theory (CMP) which is to understand how microscopic constituents (atoms, electrons, ions, ...) organize themselves into different phases of matter. The approach we will take will be to learn about particularly successful theories describing solids, crystals, metals, semiconductors and magnets. Time permitting, we will also touch upon superconductivity. The subject of phase transitions (critical pheonomena) i.e. how a phase of matter transitions to another will largely not be covered.
Meeting time: Tuesdays, 11:05 - 12:30, Wednesdays, 13:30 - 14:55, Thursdays: 15:05 - 16:30
Tutor: Shashank Mishra, email: shashankmishra@hri.res.in
Evaluation criteria: 50% HW, 50% exam
I will mainly follow the Oxford Solid State Basics by Steve Simon.
See here for recordings of Steve's lectures based on the book.
Other references will be updated with the progress of the course
Lecture notes will be updated periodically (last updated Oct 01, 3:00 pm)
Overview
Solids
Metals
Crystals structure
Band theory of metals, insulators and semiconductors
Magnetism
Superconductors
Homework 1, due 4th September 2025
Homework 2, due 14th September 2025
Homework 3, due 7th October 2025
Tutorial 1: Tuesday, 9 September 2025
Tutorial 2: Thursday, 18 September 2025
Tutorial 3: Thursday 09 Oct 2025
Mid term: Thursday, October 16, class hours (3pm). Syllabus: Contents of lectures till 30 Sep (upto and including Crystal structure)